Here comes the upgraded version of the Krankenstein, the Krankenstein +. The amp designed by the legendary Dimebag Darrell, the Krankenstein + has bigger, upgraded transformers and 6550 tubes in the power section. This amplifier has always been known for it's "go for the throat" high gain sound. Now it's been taken to the next level, 120W of massive tone! The "Dime" channel features a 3-band EQ, volume, 2 footswitchable masters, gain, and parametric sweep control while the "Kleen" channel features a 3-band EQ and volume. Also unique to this amp head is an overall volume control for the entire amp as well as a global presence control. Other features include an active effects loop, ohm and voltage selectors, line out, manual channel switch.

I've been playing off and on for 18 years so I'm not a noob. I can't stand bad reviews by people who have played a 100+ watt tube amp in Guitar Center and hate...Read complete review

I've been playing off and on for 18 years so I'm not a noob. I can't stand bad reviews by people who have played a 100+ watt tube amp in Guitar Center and hate it when they have played it at less than one. You must turn up the volume to hear what they can do. Lots of amps in music stores are improperly biased and can have terrible (weak) power tubes in them. Can't blame that on the amp.

Here's a few tips concerning a Krank. Most people that hate them don't know how to set them up.You must..*Set the Main Master Volume to at least 7 (this is the one next to the presence).*Adjust channel volume to taste..*The Krankenstein sounds better with V30's than it does with Eminence's IMO. Brighter and more cutting. I reccomend a Mesa Rectifier cab.*For modern metal, keep the Sweep knob low, 3 or less. To much presence can be overbearing..*Turn the gain down fairly low and boost the front end with a Maxon 808. This gives it more aggression and a tightness that makes it growl.*Play with preamp tube selections!!

You can thank me later. Lots of this by trail and error + good old common sense!

I play in drop b using Gibson guitars (mostly V's) along with Seymour Duncan's. I can't say I hate anything about this setup. It could always sound better, but isn't that most things??Has everything a metal head needs including a fantastic kleen channel. I've owned several amps including 5 or so 5150's, a Mesa Dual Rectifier, Hughes &amp; Kettner Warp X, Engl Powerball and quite a few others. No clean channel on the 5150/6505. There is nothing labeled clean on it. You can dial back the gain on the rythmn channel but honestly that sounds terrible for cleans...

The Krank has a punch that the 6505/5150's just would not get. Tone is subjective so keep that in mind when reading any review. Also remember that Youtube videos are not good basis for tone because the audio becomes very compressed when a video gets uploaded.

The Krank has a great sounding high gain tone with excellent cleans. What else would I need??

The ENGL's got buried in the mix(to dark)even with the mid's dialed high (I like a cutting mid). Cutting mids to low makes you get lost in a band mix.

This may be the LOUDEST amp that I have played. The volume is insane. It is not meant for a bedroom practice amp!!!!

Tone is subjective but there are several amps that I appreciate with the right settings!!!!Nice parts throughout in mine!! I think it's kind of expensive honestly.

VS

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there are way better amps for the money...peavey 6505, ENGL fireball, and the dual rec are just a few that come to mind. I had this for awhile but grew tired...Read complete review

there are way better amps for the money...peavey 6505, ENGL fireball, and the dual rec are just a few that come to mind. I had this for awhile but grew tired of having constant feedback and other signal problems...at several points i picked up radio stations. I recently upgraded to a Mesa Triple Rec, and i am much happier.it has just as much gain and crunch, but without all the feedback issues and muddy tone problems.

So i just got my hands on one of these about a month ago and let me say this thing has killer tone and great cleans. I was kind of expecting a bad amp due to a lot of the krank bashers out there but i was really surprised when i got to play it. Its super tight, articulate and has a ton of balls and punch. It really cuts through the mix well too. way better than my peavey. you will be easily heard in a live setting with this due to its unique dialed in midrange. it has a really distinct midrange unlike any other amp i heard.which isn't a bad thing. Another thing to point out is this amp is very articulate and clear. If you're a sloppy player it will not cover up your mistakes like a lot of over saturated amps on the market. so take note to that. this amp also needs to be cranked up to sound its best (not the best bedroom amp). this amp likes to breathe. for the settings i would recommend the main master at about 6 or 7. presence at about 4 or 5. sweep at 3. bass 7 or 8, mids, 4 or5, treb, 6, gain 5 or 6. that should help get you get you a nice metal tone out of the box. this amp in my opinion is better with an overdrive in front too. gives it a little more saturation. To cut things short at the end of the day i am happy with this amp and would highly recommend it to anyone who plays metal.hope this helps.

I've been playing off and on for 18 years so I'm not a noob. I can't stand bad reviews by people who have played a 100+ watt tube amp in Guitar Center and hate it when they have played it at less than one. You must turn up the volume to hear what they can do. Lots of amps in music stores are improperly biased and can have terrible (weak) power tubes in them. Can't blame that on the amp.

Here's a few tips concerning a Krank. Most people that hate them don't know how to set them up.You must..*Set the Main Master Volume to at least 7 (this is the one next to the presence).*Adjust channel volume to taste..*The Krankenstein sounds better with V30's than it does with Eminence's IMO. Brighter and more cutting. I reccomend a Mesa Rectifier cab.*For modern metal, keep the Sweep knob low, 3 or less. To much presence can be overbearing..*Turn the gain down fairly low and boost the front end with a Maxon 808. This gives it more aggression and a tightness that makes it growl.*Play with preamp tube selections!!

You can thank me later. Lots of this by trail and error + good old common sense!

I play in drop b using Gibson guitars (mostly V's) along with Seymour Duncan's. I can't say I hate anything about this setup. It could always sound better, but isn't that most things??Has everything a metal head needs including a fantastic kleen channel. I've owned several amps including 5 or so 5150's, a Mesa Dual Rectifier, Hughes &amp; Kettner Warp X, Engl Powerball and quite a few others. No clean channel on the 5150/6505. There is nothing labeled clean on it. You can dial back the gain on the rythmn channel but honestly that sounds terrible for cleans...

The Krank has a punch that the 6505/5150's just would not get. Tone is subjective so keep that in mind when reading any review. Also remember that Youtube videos are not good basis for tone because the audio becomes very compressed when a video gets uploaded.

The Krank has a great sounding high gain tone with excellent cleans. What else would I need??

The ENGL's got buried in the mix(to dark)even with the mid's dialed high (I like a cutting mid). Cutting mids to low makes you get lost in a band mix.

This may be the LOUDEST amp that I have played. The volume is insane. It is not meant for a bedroom practice amp!!!!

Tone is subjective but there are several amps that I appreciate with the right settings!!!!Nice parts throughout in mine!! I think it's kind of expensive honestly.

there are way better amps for the money...peavey 6505, ENGL fireball, and the dual rec are just a few that come to mind. I had this for awhile but grew tired of having constant feedback and other signal problems...at several points i picked up radio stations. I recently upgraded to a Mesa Triple Rec, and i am much happier.it has just as much gain and crunch, but without all the feedback issues and muddy tone problems.

I played through this amp with a few guitars at my local guitar store. I started off with a BC rich warlock and when i turned this amp on, and let it warm up, it wouldn't play through the speakers. Everything was hooked up just fine. I gave up and assumed it was the guitar, so i picked up an ESP AX and tried it again, still nothing from the amp. I fiddled with the amp for a bit and after about 10 minutes i got sound. The clean channel was pretty nice i will admit, it was real crisp and nice. But when i switched it to the dirty channel(is it called the Krank channel?) and tried it out. The distortion was very very weak and palm mutes sounded like mud, sustain was terrible and the bass level was way too high even tho the bass knob was turned all the way down. So i came back and tried it again. They retubed it nicely with brand new tubes. SO i tried it again, ESP AX. Still horrible sound... Same as last time. So i grabbed an ESP LTD MH-1000 with a floyd rose and active EMG's. Sounded better.. But still very very bad. So i went to another guitar store and tried it. Sounded exactly the same... On that one i used a Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR and still was awful. The krank Rev jr sounded better then this thing... I do not like this amp at all... I will not buy it. I prefer the Krank Rev over any other Krank... This one was just a huge disappointment.

I have been playing gigs with the Krankenstein+ head for over a year now and figured it was time to write my review. I am in 3 bands all of whom play different styles of music; one blues, one vintage metal (Slayer ect.), and another modern metal. With a turn of the sweep and gain knob I am ready to play anything. Most gainy amps, in my experience, have crappy clean tones. Not so with this Krank. I play with a Dean Dime ML, and a Les Paul....amazing sounding with both! I have played through a lot of 'gainy' amps that sound like mosquitoes in cans LOL. This amp pushes the sound out front of the mix. LOVE IT!!!

This amp is amazing. The above Reviews say it all. However One plus for this amp that I have not read about is its ability to maintain most of its tone at a lower volume unlike many hi watt tube amps. This is a big advantage if u live in an apartment like I do. The Krankenstein sounds best,in my opinion, with the main master between 3-5 and master 1 & 2 at 4-6,3-5. If you play hard rock or metal this is a must own.

I have spent many years looking for the right metal tone and I have finally found it. From the very second I got the amp and plugged it into the Krankenstien speaker cab and dialed in the settings I got off the Krank website it sounded AMAZING!!!! I use a PRS Custom 24 and it sounds great through this head I also have a mesa boogie triple rec and a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 and the distortion on this blows both those amps out of the water. There are some down sides to this amp. The clean channel sucks... a lot, especially compared to the Marshall so really only buy this amp if your in a metal or hardcore band or you want your rock band to sound ballsy. Also it doesn't come with a manual. Other than that this head provides many great distortion tones at super high volume with 100% clarity.

Sounds like KranK redid their amp to compete with the Peavey 6505+. It has a higher price tag and lacks in tone. I played this amp and I was not really impressed. Own the real + and buy Peavey its the blue print for the Metal sound as they advertise.

If your looking for the best metal amp on the market today. You won't have to go any further. The Krankenstein is the best. I've owned many amps Marshall, Peavey, Mesa, Engl. The tonal range and clarity of the Krank is far superior. Try it, you'll like it.

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